The Happy Hunt: Rumfire's Sweet Sunset

photos and story by Noelani Anderson 

A strong and sweet Mai Tai at RumFire was the perfect fix after a wind-filled, salty surf at Diamond head on a Saturday afternoon. I dried off with my beach towel and threw on a summer dress and a baseball cap, cruised over the Ala Wai and pulled into valet parking (complimentary with validation) at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.


Then I walked through the hall and sat myself at the bar of the Beachside RumFire Resturaunt - sunset to my right and an array of liquor to my left. The picturesque Waikiki scene called for the classic Hawaiian drink – a mai tai, which, at five dollars, was the right price for my surfer's budget.

noelani anderson / KA LAMAKUA

Live music and the handfulls of lei-dressed tourists only added to the moment, providing lots of entertainment as I sipped on my drink to neutralize the salty taste of the ocean that lingered in my mouth. 


Being that it was a Saturday afternoon I was particularly appreciative of the fact that RumFire runs their four to six o'clock specials every day, not just weekdays! RumFire can either be a sunset delight or an evening pre-game spot as their happy hour menu includes a number of tropical cocktails, beer and wine as well as shots and bombs. The 'Rockmeister' bomb is perfect if you need a little energy boost with a buzz (Rockstar and Jagermeister), or the 'Bonfire' if you prefer vodka. The shots at RumFire also have a creative-Hawaiian inspired but not-too-tacky twist. The 'red headed hula girl', 'sex wax', and 'hot shot'(jalapeno infused taquila!), are all only $3, so if you are with a group of friends and want to buy 'em a round you can spread the love without emptying your pockets.

Of course, if you are just looking for a mellow happy hour cocktail before dinner RumFire offers a variety of drinks and appetizers for those who aren't looking to get too crazy on shots at six o'clock. The Happy hour cocktails include the 'gidgets crush'(watermelon infused vodka and melon liquor), the 'tradewinds', and the 'baja sun'(a spicy twist on a margarita). All the specialty cocktails, including the classic mai tai that I chose, are $5, with red and white house wines running the same. Draft beer, however, is only $3 a pint, and your choices are Stella, Bud and Bud light, Kona Longboard, Blue Moon, and Steinlager.

noelani anderson / KA LAMAKUA

Along with this array of drink specials RumFire also serves their tapas-inspired appetizers at a happy price between 4 and 6 everyday. The braised beef nachos ($8) are great to share, as is the kalua pork quesadilla ($6) and the jerk chicken wings ($6) and the BBQ Rum baby back ribs ($6). If you are having a date with yourself, or if your friends bailed on you (my predicament this particular Saturday afternoon), try the north shore ceasar salad ($7) and a fish taco with fresh catch from pier 38 ($10). Along with their daily sunset happy hour RumFire also has a late night discounted menu after 9:30 sunday thru thursday (excluding holidays). You'll find many of the same items as the happy hour menu, but look out for a late night addition: mini chicken burritos with guacamole and Kona coffee mole sauce.

After having my mai tai with sunset, chatting with the bartender, and grooving in my seat to the live music I felt a wave of contentment wash over me. The classic, beautiful Hawaiian day – what all the tourists rave about and what I rarely treat myself to. In the midst of finals we are stressed, sleep deprived and snappy. Whether you need a little break from studying, or you really need to let loose, Happy hour at RumFIre is a picturesque spot to relax and take a moment to enjoy the salty and sweet flavors of Hawaii without the bitter prices that Waikiki is infamous for.

Happy Hour Hunt: Doraku Sushi - Beyond Happy

by Noelani Anderson

The Happy Hour at Doraku, in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center on the Waikiki strip, boads a simple but delicious menu, cheap, quality drink specials, and an casually elegant atmosphere that is perfect for any occasion. The happy hour appetizer menu includes indulgent chicken karaage, the geisha roll (a delicious twist on the classic spicy tuna roll), miso glazed soybeans, california rolls, and a seared ahí tartar served on a bed of greens. All of these dishes are priced between three and five dollars, as are the beer and wine selection and the bartender's specialty drink of the night.

Two details of Doraku's Happy Hour make it especially happy, one: parking is free at the Royal Hawaiian Parking Structure (don't forget to ask your server to validate your ticket!), and two: hours are 5-7, meaning you don't have to rush to make the usual six o'clock happy hour cut off time. During the Winter this late happy hour means you can even catch sunset on the beach and have time to put in orders before seven o'clock.

I rolled into Royal Hawaiian's parking structure at about 6:30, having come from campus where I was in class until six. I threw a sarong around my waist and changed into a cute summer dress and threw on some heels, figuring I might as well dress up a bit. A friend was waiting for me outside of Doraku's entrance on the third floor, across from Suntory restauraunt. We were greeted by a lovely hostess who showed us to a large wooden table where we were seated, community style. The table could fit about twelve people and is usually reserved for large parties but during happy hour you simply dine next to neighbors, or you have the entire table to yourself, depending how busy it is.

We shared all of the appetizers mentioned above, my friend had a large Kirin ($5) and I chose the Bartender's special, which was a stiff margarita on the rocks made with Cazadores taquila, which happens to be a personal favorite ($3). Before we knew it the time was nearly 8:30, and we were wrapping things up, satisfied, full, and happy, when the manager approached us and offered to buy us a round of drinks if we wouldn't mind moving to a smaller table, as there was a large party that required the big wooden one. We saw absolutely no problem in a free round of drinks and happily moved, ordering one more roll at our new location and finishing out the evening with a proper buzz. The last roll we ordered, the red dragon, was not on happy hour but it was exquisite, and well worth the $13 cost. Doraku has great happy hour deals, across the board, but their regular menu is also affordable and offers a wide variety of Japanese-Latin fused sushi and entrees. Whether you are going out on a first date, for a birthday, or celebrating the completion of that last final or paper, Doraku has a pocket friendly happy hour that I would highly recommend, monday thru friday from 5-7. Happy Hunting!

Home Sweet Corn

by Noelani Anderson

For the first time in a few years I came home for thanksgiving. I took he first flight out of Honolulu on Wednesday morning, arriving in Hilo (Big Island) at 6:45 am.

noelani anderson / KA LAMAKUA

My mom picked me up and we went for a surf at Honoli'i, then did some last minute thanksgiving preparation shopping before making the one hour drive along the coast to Honoka'a, my hometown. And while we did do some shopping at Foodland, the star of our thanksgiving dinner was Big-Island grown sweet corn that we picked up on the side of the road on our way out of Hilo.

Feast and Celebration

noelani anderson / KA LAMAKUA

Makahiki hula in Waimea Valley mark the uniquely

Hawaiian celebrations of this Thanksgiving season.

by Noelani Anderson

Thanksgiving is, as we all know, a day of feasting. Every year when that last Thursday in November comes around we gravitate amongst our friends and family  to celebrate the company of loved ones by cooking our favorite dishes, carrying on kitchen traditions and eating all weekend long. The foods are rich, the flavors are familiar and the atmosphere is a comfortable, cozy one, warming us up to the holiday season.

Hawaii is unique when it comes to the holidays. Many mainlanders would argue that there is no sign in Hawaii that the holidays have begun because the weather remains sunny and the days only get shorter by about an hour. Islanders, however, celebrate in style, and by that I mean there is always pleny food, drink, laughter, games and holo holo. The truth is that Hawaii has long been home to a tradition of rest, play and feasting between the months of november and febuary, which is known as the time of the makahiki. The word 'makahiki' means "year", "new year", and also refers to the four month period during which thanksgiving, christmas and the new year coincidentially take place. Before missionary influence and the influx of Western culture this four month period was Makahiki - Christian holidays were still foreign.

During the Makahiki season war was kapu (forbidden), offerings were made to the god Lono, who is the deity of agriculture and fertility, games such as Hawaiian sledding and javelin throwing took place as well as competition in surfing,canoe paddling, swimming, wrestling and boxing. Feast, dance, and song along with spiritual ceremony and dedications to Lono were fundamental in the time of Makahiki and many types of work such as farming and fishing were kapu (outlawed) except for specific days designated by the ali'i (chiefs).

Makahiki is a complex and essential part of Hawaiian culture (kalamai (excuse me) for the breif explanation), but long story short, Hawaii knows how to eat, drink and be merry, living aloha all the while. The weekend before thankgiving many modern day makahiki festivals are held throughout the islands, offering hula, hawaiian music, laulau and poi as well as other cultural activites. Makahiki is a time of play as much as it is a time of gratitude and offering, a time to enjoy the beauty of the people around us and the place we live. Likewise, every time thanksgiving comes around we remember what we sometimes forget...our blessings. We give thanks and enjoy the life we're giving thanks for.

This thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season embrace fun, peace, family and love. Forget the commercial aspects of the season and get back to the roots, celbrate makahiki style, giving plenty mahalos to akua (the gods), surfing, swimming and enjoying the beauty of our island home and of course...support Hawaii farmers and kau kau (eat) local foods!

The Happy Hunt: Big City Diner

by Noelani Anderson

I decided to stop in for what I thought would be a drink and a pupu at Big City Diner's Happy Hour because I had been in for breakfast a couple weeks ago and was enticed by their advertisment of half off appetizers from 3-6 monday through friday. I figured it was worth looking into as it is a comfortable, spacious resturaunt with two locations in Honolulu (Ward Center and 10th ave Waialae in Kaimuki), and booth seats that could be perfect for the afternoon meeting or study session somewhere other than the library.

noelani anderson / KA LAMAKUA

Big City Diner on Waialae and 10th Ave.

My hunt was not so happy. I went to the Waialae location with a friend on a friday afternoon, anticipating half off their sesame edamame, vegetable plate, cajun fries, calamari and poke. Our server was rather dull and when I asked him about the happy hour specials he informed me that in order to get half off pupus each person in your party must order two drinks other than juice or soda. Strike one. Their happy hour drink specials were limited to 50 cents off a 16 oz beer or a dollar off a 24 oz beer and $1 discounted wine, bumping the price of a glass down to 3.75. The flavored margaritas are not included in happy hour: strike two.

Although margaritas weren't on special I orderd one as they are still within my cocktail budget ($6). The mango margarita was tasty but defecient in what should be the most important ingridient, so I sent it back and the waiter had the bartender fix it up a bit stiffer, after which the  margarita was appropriately refreshing. Meanwhile, we ordered a plate of chili fries which were $8.95 for a large portion, but nothing notable in terms of flavor.

The happy hour at Big City Diner striked out on a couple of bases – namely deceptive advertising and lame drink specials. However, the diner didn't strike three times, so it's not completely out. While I wasn't all that pleased with my experience I do think it could be the perfect happy hour for a group of people who have a couple hours to kill, are craving a couple of cold beers and have and appetite to take advantage of the 50% off pupu selection. 

It may not be sunset on the beach but you'll get a lot of food and keep the cost down while kicking it in a comfy, diner setting with the classic Hometown American ambience. The afternoon specials run from three to six o'clock, but if you've got a big exam and need that last cram hour of studying paired with a solid meal that's under five bucks, keep in mind that Big City Diner runs an early bird full breakfast special for $4.99 served daily between seven and eight am.

Happy Hunting! 

The Happy Hunt: Brasserie Du Vin

By Noelani Isabella Anderson

noelani anderson / 

KA LAMAKUA

Noelani Anderson, Ka Lamakua
food writer, has a passion for
flavors, company, cooking and
the importance of everything
that happens around the table.
Writing is another love of hers,
and through writing about food
she collaborates the two in a
cohesion meant for ready readers.

While we'd all love to have some extra spending money, most of us college students are on a budget. Stuck between rent, tuition costs, student loans, food, other living expenses and a schedule limited by classes and homework, the space for part time jobs is limited and money usually gets spent faster than it accumulates.

On the flipside, as students we are in the prime of our social lives, ready to explore the goings on, ready for a night on the town, jonesing to wind down after a long week of class. Needless to say being on a budget and going out to resuraunts or bars don't exactly go hand in hand. A cheap night out is practically an oxymoron unless you've got some generous friends, good connections…or you know where the deals are at. 

That's where the happy hunt comes in; this weekly article is chronicle of my search for the best happy hour in Honolulu, and each week I will comment on my latest happy hour excursion(s), speaking to the food, the drink, the quality to price ratio, the ambience and the convenience of the spot. (Any suggestions, ideas, or friendly critisism is welcome via email at nia4@hawaii.edu.)

---

noelani anderson / KA LAMAKUA

Brasserie Du Vin is located across 

from the historic Hawaii Theatre,

pictured here, on Bethel Street.

If you're feeling like you need to be exported from your reality into a quaint, classy European ambience that seems to take you to another era, happy hour at Brasserie Du Vin on Bethel Street in Downtown Honolulu is the perfect getaway. Beginning at 4:00 p.m. and ending at 6:00, a couple of happy hours will disappear as you sip martinis and have hors d'oeuvres with a friend, a crew, or on your own.


The first time I enjoyed happy hour at Du Vin I rocked it solo, arriving at the place by accident, simply in search of a strong drink and a quick bite in between art shows and dance recitals on a First Friday. I slipped into the bar at 5 minutes till six, glanced at the food menu, (quickly settling on a goat cheese and walnut salad), while asking the bartender which of the martinis she would recommend.

Not only did she make the best martini I'd had in ages, but the salad was excellent and the two went together like a charm. The service was wonderfully genuine, the bartender checking in on me every now and then, we even chatted a bit about this or that and she assured me that it is every woman’s right to enjoy a cocktail on her own.

Outgoing as I am, I ended my evening at Du Vin over a glass of wine my neighbors at the bar invited me to. As I left dusk had long since fallen, my belly was content, I had a nice little buzz, my palate had been pampered and my wallet was the happiest of all as the bill added up to only ten dollars.

The service was so great I threw in five for tip, but it was well deserved and beyond worth it as all my visits to Du Vin since have been just as, if not more pleasurable.

The happy hour martinis are $4, the goat cheese salad I mentioned is $6, and the pomme fries (served french style) are only $2.50, along with a number of other drink and appetizer deals.

Du Vin is located on Bethel street across from the Hawaii Theatre and their Happy Hour is 4-6 every day they are open, Monday thru Saturday. If you're feelin' a little spendy, hang out after happy hour for live music beginning at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday – Saturday (for the line up visit www.brasserieduvin.com). Happy Hunting!